US Tightens Visa Rules: Tourist Applications Rejected for Birth Tourism and Expanded Social Media Screening for H-1B Applicants

The United States embassy in India has clarified its stance on tourist visa applications, emphasizing stricter enforcement measures against birth tourism.

According to a recent announcement shared on social media platform X, US consular officers will reject tourist visa applications if they determine the primary purpose of travel is to give birth in the United States as a means to secure American citizenship for the child.

"US consular officers will deny tourist visa applications if they believe the primary purpose of travel is to give birth in the United States to obtain US citizenship for the child. This is not permitted," stated the official communication from the US embassy in India.

In addition to this policy enforcement, the US Department of State has expanded its screening protocols to include reviews of social media and online presence for all H-1B specialty occupation workers and their H-4 dependents. This expansion builds upon existing protocols already in place for student and exchange visitor visa categories such as F, M, and J visas.

Many visa applicants in India have reportedly received notifications that their previously scheduled visa appointments were being rescheduled, creating concern among affected individuals.

A spokesperson from the US embassy confirmed that the enhanced social media screening for H-1B and H-4 applicants will officially commence on December 15, aligning with the Trump administration's recent directive to make such screenings mandatory for these visa categories.

The embassy emphasized that comprehensive security reviews remain a standard component of their visa application evaluation process.

"In every visa case, we will take the time necessary to ensure an applicant does not pose a risk to the safety and security of the United States and that he or she has credibly established his or her eligibility for the visa sought, including that the applicant intends to engage in activities consistent with the terms of admission," the embassy statement concluded.

This development has introduced additional uncertainty for thousands of workers and families navigating the US visa system.